Kid Heroes for the Planet

April 12, 2013

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COURTESY GLORIA BARRON PRIZE FOR YOUNG HEROES

Super Girl

This kid is on a mission! When she was 7, Brooklyn Wright wrote The Adventures of the Earth Saver Girl. In the book, a girl learns she has the power to rid the Earth of litter. Brooklyn created a costume and skit to go along with her book. Now 10, she has visited more than 100 schools to teach students about pollution. Last year, she received for her work a Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. "It makes me feel great," she told TFK. "Like I'm doing my part to help." For more about Brooklyn, visit earthsavergirl.com.

COURTESY ECOSYSACTION.ORG

A Voice for Elephants

More ivory is purchased in China than in any other country. After learning that elephants were being killed for their tusks, China's Celia Ho, 14, decided to take action. By making posters and writing letters to newspapers, she is spreading the word about the problem. "I am working on an ivory-ban campaign," she told TFK in an e-mail. "The most important part is educating young people."

ADRIAN UTSCH

Help for the Naitulus

It's been a busy year for 12-year-olds Josiah Utsch (left) and Ridgely Kelly. In 2012, TFK wrote about their efforts to save a sea creature called the chambered nautilus, which is hunted for its shell. Since then, the boys from Maine have raised $9,000 through their website savethenautilus.org. They gave the money to scientist Peter Ward. Then they joined Ward on a research trip to American Samoa. "We got significant data," says Ridgely. The information will be used to help determine if the nautilus is endangered.

COURTESY GLORIA BARRON PRIZE FOR YOUNG HEROES

Green for Frogs

Avalon Theisen, 12, understands that frogs are important to the environment. They help keep the insect population down and alert us to pollutants. Plus, she says, "they are beautiful to both hear and see." When she was 8, her love of frogs inspired her to start Conserve It Forward. She shares information about frogs and how to protect them with people at schools, parks and zoos near Tampa, Florida. Her efforts earned her the Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. She hopes to motivate other kids to spread conservation messages. "Find a project you love, act on it, share it with others," Avalon told TFK. "That's how you can conserve it forward."

COURTESY GOLDBERG FAMILY

Abby's Stand

Abby Goldberg 13, is working to save the environment—one bag at a time. She decided to take action after finding dozens of littered plastic bags in her town of Grayslake, Illinois. Abby learned that state lawmakers were considering a bill that would keep towns from banning plastic bags. She collected more than 150,000 signatures for a petition against the bill. When the governor of Illinois vetoed the bill, he called Abby to tell her the news. "It feels awesome, knowing that I've had a big impact on my community," she told TFK. Abby says her mission now is to educate others about the harmful effects of plastic bags.